Jenn Kennedy was looking for a way to get involved with the community.Volunteering for Capitol Land Trust’s education and community outreach programs doesn’t require a science background. Just a little time and passion.
After moving back home to Olympia from living overseas, Jenn Kennedy found herself wanting to get involved in the community, but in a way that made sense for her. Jenn’s education and experience led to a career as a substance abuse prevention and intervention specialist in local K-12 schools. When her husband got a job overseas, Jenn began volunteering at the international school where she lived. She was quickly offered a position as a para-educator for kindergarten and then first grade. She loved working with kids and families. Upon returning home she began looking for a way to continue doing that.
-
- Jenn showing students critters under a log.
As is often the case, Jenn learned about Capitol Land Trust (CLT) through word of mouth.
“At first I wasn’t sure about volunteering for CLT,” Jenn says. “Like a lot of people, I enjoy being outside in nature and I love the beautiful shorelines and landscapes of the Puget Sound area. But I didn’t know much about conservation. I was worried that I might not be a good fit.”
Then she learned about CLT’s community engagement programs: Bayshore FieldSTEM®, Salmon Experience, and Conservation Kids. Combined, these programs engage about 1,200 people per year—mostly kids. She was intrigued.
“The potential to work with kids again was a pull for sure,” she says. “I thought I needed to be some sort of environmental specialist to do a good job and to be accepted. But everyone I met from CLT was awesome. Yes, they knew a lot about conservation, but they were also just regular, fun-loving people who were excited to welcome new faces.”
-
- Jenn (left) and a group of volunteers before a program.
Jenn began volunteering for CLT programs in both Thurston and Mason counties. Along the way she became a bit of a conservation expert herself.
“I’ve really enjoyed getting to know others and learning all about the natural world from some amazing people—both CLT staff and also the other volunteers I get to work alongside. I’ve gained so much knowledge of local ecosystems that has enriched my personal life. It started with a love of working with children and then deepened my passion for nature.”
She believes that the outdoor experiences we have in our youth play a big role in developing a lifelong connection to nature.
“I’m an 80’s kid. We grew up running around outside and developed an appreciation of nature. It’s different for many kids today. We need them to be inspired to take care of this planet so they can carry conservation work forward. The collaborative programs CLT hosts on the land can inspire kids to do just that.”
-
- Jenn showing a family the salmon lifecycle.
One of her favorite program moments was during CLT’s public Salmon Experience program at Bayshore Preserve in Shelton. Jenn encountered a young child and her family that now has a family tradition of coming back every year to see the salmon.
“Whether it’s the squeals of the 3rd graders, or the excited chatter of a family, that excitement gets us volunteers energized for the day’s activities and inspires us to continue volunteering.”
Providing meaningful and fulfilling volunteer experiences is just one way CLT lives our motto “connecting people, conserving land.”
From boots-on-the-ground habitat management to community engagement, CLT offers numerous opportunities for people to reconnect with natural spaces while actively contributing to the health of our local environment.
For CLT, every donation of time, expertise, or funding is important and makes a permanent difference to the health of our lands, waters, and the variety of fish and wildlife.